Letters From Iwo Jima
This is perhaps the better of Clint Eastwood's two-part World War II project, following up Flags of Our Fathers. Letters was nominated for 4 Academy Awards, including Best Director and Best Picture, and took home the award for Best Sound Editing. The film tells the story of the Battle of Iwo Jima from the viewpoint of the Japanese soldiers, as led by General Tadamichi Kuribayashi (Ken Watanabe). It's one of those sweeping war epics that manages to be stately and sentimental all at once.

Two more if you read more

Venus
Sex. Art. Youth. Love. Aging issues. Peter O'Toole giving what one reviewer called "a staggering performance — fearless, defiantly untamed and in its own way a work of art." What more could you ask for? O'Toole plays an older man who becomes enthralled with his friend's nineteen-year-old grand-niece. Her crass immaturity and his sophisticated old manliness collide to form a surprisingly sweet bond. Check out the trailer and see for yourself.

The Good German
Starring George Clooney and Cate Blanchett, The Good German was expected to be a modern noir with nods to classics like Casablanca. While it didn't end up wowing the critics, it's still a visually arresting film featuring some excellent performances. The movie, shot in black-and-white, follows American journalist Jacob Reismer (Clooney), who travels to Berlin to cover the Postdam Peace Conference. There, he reconnects with an ex-girlfriend (Blanchett), and the two soon become embroiled in a Nazi/Soviet/American conspiracy. Tobey Maguire attempts to play a sociopath. For a more detailed perspective, check out my review.